PLANT-POWERED TOURING 5: Attitude of Gratitude
by Emerald Rae
Welcome to the future of sustainable travel! Going veggie is easier than ever and is an effective way to drastically cut down your carbon footprint and keep your energy up on the road. I have been touring-as-vegan for 4 years and wrote this guide to answer some common questions I encounter in my travels.
Let’s talk about gratitude. Feel free to ask me questions at emerald@emeraldrae.com. Photo above: Vegan tempeh salad in southern Vermont.
Be Thankful
It is SO important to change your mindset from one of scarcity to abundance. We have so many options and choices available to us. Know that no matter where you go, there will be food for you. When switching to a plant-based diet, trust the universe and the process and most of all, yourself.
As silly and woo-woo-hippy-dippy as it sounds, take some time out of each day to thank the food for feeding and nourishing you, and thank yourself for making good choices, day after day, week after week, month after month, tour after tour.
DOs and DON’Ts of Plant-Powered Gratitude
DO always, always, always be grateful to the people who are trying their best to feed you.
DON’T expect them to be perfect. Be gracious and always accept a gift.
DO embrace a whole new world of interesting foods, spices, and substitutes. Use this as an opportunity to expand your kitchen chops.
DON’T expect yourself to be perfect — be kind to yourself if you make a mistake ordering lunch, or get drunk and eat bacon.
DO be prepared for all contingencies and bring a couple of snacks just in case.
DON’T be that vegan! You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Pardon the expression, maybe you don’t eat honey! Just do your thing and don’t be preachy, and people will like you and might want to follow your example. Trust me, it works.
Best of luck, my fearless veggies! Play on!